The name Gaynsfert first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in the region of Gaye which was located in France. The surname Gaynsfert was also a nickname which described someone with a happy or light spirited character.

Early Origins of the Gaynsfert family

The surname Gaynsfert was first found in Durham at Gainford, a parish, in the unions of Teesdale, Darlington, and Auckland. "This place was anciently a seigniory detached from the palatinate jurisdiction of the county, and invested with several valuable privileges and immunities. It appears to have been indebted for its origin to Egfrid, Bishop of Lindisfarne, who founded a church, which in 830 he gave to the see, together with the lands annexed to it, and which continued to form part of the episcopal possessions till the commencement of the 11th century." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

Early History of the Gaynsfert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gaynsfert research.Another 229 words (16 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gaynsfert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gaynsfert Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Gaynsfert has appeared include Gainsford, Gaynesford, Gainford, Gaynsford, Ganesford and many more.

Early Notables of the Gaynsfert family (pre 1700)

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Migration of the Gaynsfert family to the New World and Oceana

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Gaynsfert arrived in North America very early: Mathias Gainsford who settled in Maryland in 1774 and Arthur Gainsford, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1876.